The African Climate Reporters (ACR) has called on the federal government to confer a national honour on Yahaya Ahmed for pioneering the construction of 15 environmentally friendly houses from plastic bottles.

The head of communication and strategies of ACR, Ibrahima Yakubu, made the call in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna.

Mr Yakubu said Mr Ahmed, who is the director of the Developmental Association of Renewable Energies (DARE), deserved national recognition for his contribution to environmental sustainability and climate innovation.

According to him, the initiative began with the construction of the first plastic bottle house at Yalwa Village near Jaji, along the Kaduna-Zaria Road, and has since expanded to 15 completed structures.

He described the project as one of the most practical examples of climate-smart innovation in Nigeria, noting that it converts plastic waste into durable, affordable and environmentally friendly housing.

“Engineer Yahaya Ahmed deserves national recognition for successfully constructing 15 houses using plastic bottles.

“His work has demonstrated that materials often regarded as waste can be transformed into valuable resources that benefit communities and contribute to environmental protection,” Mr Yakubu said.

He added that the project had helped to tackle multiple challenges, including plastic pollution, environmental degradation, housing shortages and youth unemployment.

Mr Yakubu said each house constructed with sand-filled plastic bottles represented a significant step towards promoting sustainable development and responsible waste management.

He noted that thousands of plastic bottles that could have ended up polluting the environment were instead utilised for productive purposes.

The ACR spokesman said he had visited some of the houses and found them structurally sound and visually appealing.

He also commended DARE for training and empowering young people in sustainable construction and environmental innovation.

According to him, the organisation’s programmes have equipped hundreds of youths with practical skills that create livelihood opportunities while promoting environmental sustainability.

Mr Yakubu further said the initiative aligned with global efforts to address climate change through recycling, waste reduction and the promotion of climate-resilient infrastructure.

He urged the federal government, relevant ministries and environmental agencies to recognise Mr Ahmed’s contributions through a national honour.

According to him, such recognition would encourage more Nigerians to develop innovative solutions to environmental and developmental challenges.

“Conferring a national honour on Engineer Yahaya Ahmed will not only celebrate his achievements but also inspire a new generation of innovators to contribute to climate action and sustainable development,” he said.

Mr Yakubu reaffirmed ACR’s commitment to promoting climate innovation and environmental sustainability across Nigeria and Africa, describing Mr Ahmed’s achievements as a source of pride for Kaduna State and the country at large.

(NAN)